A Hundred Days

President Obama came out with a reflective piece on the significance of Filipino immigration to the US for Filipino American History Month, a first from a sitting American president. Read it here.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte just passed the 100-day mark of his administration and opinions fill up the full spectrum. With the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing a 76 percent satisfaction rating for the president's performance in office, and the constant flow of controversial and outrageous statements coming out of his mouth, President Digong is alternately revered and opposed by a divided nation. Here are four opinion pieces that reflect the divide:

Filipino American journalist Rene Astudillo writes on "Open Letter to My President";

Manila-based communications specialist Manuel Hizon provides as a situationer, "Making Sense of Change";

San Francisco-based lawyer/columnist Rodel Rodis educates us (and hopefully the President's men) on the Leahy Law that has interesting repercussions on US-Philippines relations; and Contributing Writer Myles A. Garcia weighs in with a satirical piece, "Dinuguan a la Duterte."

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for this week: Minatamis na Saging, a Filipino merienda favorite, from Richgail Enriquez's vegan kitchen. Take note of Richgail's reminder to use organic brown sugar for the recipe. Non-organic brown sugar, she says, is not vegan.

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Congratulations to the Winners of the 2016 Plaridel Awards
Lotis Key - Best Entertainment Story “Standing Room Only” 
Manzel Delacruz - Best International Reporting (tie) “Missions Possible”
Elizabeth Ann Quirino, Honorable Mention for Best Tourism Feature “My Tarlac Lights Up the World With Belenismo”